The discussion dives into the worrying trend of lowering reading expectations for children. It champions the idea of introducing complex literature to kids, arguing that heavy classics can boost their intellectual growth and confidence. The hosts reflect on how past generations tackled timeless themes through challenging texts. They even reference George Orwell’s critique of modern children's books, questioning the balance between wholesomeness and complexity in literature today. This thought-provoking conversation invites listeners to reconsider what they expose their kids to.
02:49
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Challenge Kids' Reading
Don't underestimate children's reading abilities.
Challenge them with complex texts instead of dumbing things down.
insights INSIGHT
Complexity in Classic Literature
Older children's books exposed kids to complex moral themes and historical figures.
These books assumed a higher level of knowledge and critical thinking.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Orwell's Book Preferences
George Orwell preferred giving children challenging books like Petronius Arbiter over Peter Pan.
He found modern children's books to be generally horrible.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Peter Pan, written by J.M. Barrie, is a whimsical and enchanting tale that explores the themes of youthful innocence, perpetual youth, and the reluctance to grow up. The story follows Peter Pan, a free-spirited and mischievous boy who lives in Neverland, a magical island inhabited by fairies, mermaids, Native Americans, and pirates. Peter Pan whisks away the Darling children—Wendy, John, and Michael—to Neverland, where they engage in various adventures. The narrative delves into the contrast between childhood and adulthood, with Peter Pan representing the eternal child and Captain Hook embodying the fears and responsibilities of adulthood. The book also touches on themes of motherhood, as seen through Wendy's role as a surrogate mother to the Lost Boys, and the psychological aspects of Peter's inability to age, which may be linked to his possible status as a symbol of children who died young[1][3][4].
Aesop's Fables
Aesop
Aesop's Fables are a collection of stories that have been passed down through oral tradition and later written down. These fables feature animals and other elements that take on human characteristics to convey important moral lessons. The stories cover a wide range of themes, including social, religious, and political issues, and have been used as ethical guides and educational tools for both children and adults. The fables are known for their simplicity and the profound truths they convey, making them timeless and universally relevant.
Plutarch's Lives
Plutarch
Plutarch's Lives, also known as Parallel Lives, is a collection of 48 biographies of notable men from ancient Greece and Rome. The work is structured in pairs, with one Greek and one Roman figure of similar destiny, such as Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar, or Demosthenes and Cicero. Plutarch's primary concern was not to write strict historical accounts but to explore the moral virtues and failings of his subjects, aiming to provide examples of conduct to imitate or avoid. The biographies are significant not only for their insight into the individuals but also for their historical value, offering a glimpse into the times in which they lived[2][3][5].
The Satyricon
Petronius
The Satyricon, written in Latin, is a Menippean satire that combines prose and verse to depict the lives of three young men—Encolpius, Ascyltos, and Giton—as they engage in various outlandish and often perverse adventures in southern Italy during the mid-1st century AD. The novel is renowned for its vivid portrayal of everyday Roman life, exposing the vulgarity and pretentiousness of the wealthy. It includes the famous 'Cena Trimalchionis' (Dinner of Trimalchio), which satirizes the excesses and pretensions of the Roman elite. The work is considered one of the gems of Western literature and a precursor to the modern novel form[2][4][5].
It’s interesting to think about the steady decline in expectations for our kids when it comes to reading. Sure, we want them to be able to read earlier than ever, but what about what they read?
Not long ago, kids were taught Latin and Greek so they could read the classics...in their original languages. Think of Aesop’s Fables. Think of children being read Plutarch’s Lives by their parents. This is heavy stuff. And purposefully so. Because when you read old school books, what you’re really doing is acquainting yourself with the obscure yet illustrative figures from the ancient world while also displaying a willingness to wrestle with timeless and morally complex topics.
There is a quote from George Orwell, which dates to the early 20th century, that illustrates how much things have changed. “Modern books for children are rather horrible things,” he said, “especially when you see them in the mass. Personally I would sooner give a child a copy of Petronius Arbiter than Peter Pan, but even Barrie seems manly and wholesome compared with some of his later imitators.”
How many adults even know who Petronius is? (He was a writer who lived in the court of Nero). And how many adults today probably winced at the idea that a book should teach kids how to be manly? Even the idea of wholesomeness is controversial! Wholesome according to whom? The white male patriarchy? The west? The Judeo-Christian tradition?
This is how the discussion devolves these days. Is it any surprise then that the children and young adult sections of today’s bookstores are filled with so much infantilizing escapism, fantastical melodrama, ie just plain absurd nonsense? The curmudgeons among us want to blame millennials and Gen Z for this. Their laziness and faltering tastes are why we’re awash in this stuff.
But do you really believe our kids are dumber than the kids of Orwell’s time? Or back before that? Of course not! They’re kids. We’re the problem. Parents. Adults. Educators. Publishers. As a collective, we’ve stopped believing our kids are capable of reading challenging books. So we provide them without “kids editions” and give them silly picture books, instead of helping the build their reading muscles, and then we wonder why they can’t handle heavy stuff.
Well stop it. Push them. Push yourself. They aren’t babies. Or at least they shouldn’t be after they’ve learned to read for themselves.
The Daily Dad 
